Automatic lubricator.



Patented Aug. 8, 1899.,

J. H. PIBURN.

AUTOMATIC LUBBICATOR.

(Application filed Feb. 2, 1899.)

(No Model.)

viii I g W'inesse: 7% W/ M. QM

THE uonms #mns 00.. PNOTO LIT UNITED STATES PATENT OFErcE.

JOHN H. PIBURN, OF MISSOURI CITY, MISSOURI.

UAUTOMATIC -LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATiON forming part of Lettersifatent No. 630,405, dated August 8, 1399-.

Application. filed February 2, 1899. Serial No. 704,829. (No model.)

T at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN I-I. PIBURN, of Missouri City, Clay county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Lubricators, of which the fol'-' lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to means for lubricating wagon-wheels; and my object is to produce means whereby dust or dirt is reliably IO excluded from the journal and whereby said journal is automatically lubricated.

A further object is to provide a wheel-hub of such construction that it runs with practically no rattling. p

A still further object is to produce a wheelhub of the character outlined which is of simple, strong, durable, and inexpensive construction.

To these ends the invention consists in cer- 2o tain novel and peculiar features of construc- 0 section through the center of Fig. 2.

tion and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of the hub of a wheel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail'section of the cup, taken on the line II II of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a Fig. at is a detail perspective view of a cup forming a part of my invention. Fig. 5 is a detail face view of a split collar also forming a part of my invention.

In the said drawings, where similar reference-numerals designate correspondingparts, 1 designates a cylindrical cup provided at its outer end with an inwardly-turned flange 2. It is also provided with an inwardly-project- 0 ing partition-flange 3 and with an oblique or inclined base-flange 4:, the latter converging toward the flange 3, all of said flanges being of circular form.

5 designates a series of springs which are 5 secured inany suitable manner to and between the flanges 2 and 3 and tend to force the latter away from the former for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

6 designates a cylindrical cup of larger diameter than cup 1, and said cup, like the cup 1, is provided with an annular sloping baseflange 7, with an inwardly-projecting parti tion-flange 8, toward which the former flange converges, and with an annular flange 9, which diverges inwardly with respect to flange 8, the flange 9 being of the 9 split variety, so that one e'ndm'ay be bent slightlywithin the other, as at 10, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. (See Fig; 4.)

11 designates a split collar slightlycurved in cross-section to correspond withthe crosssectional form offlangef), (see Fig. 1,) the opening of said collar being eccentric with respect to its periphery, the arrangement being such that its face is wider where it is split than at any other point, the ends of the collar formed by splitting it being overlapped slightly by preference and occupying diiferent planes, so that the outer end of the split flange of cup 6 may be inserted between the overlapping ends 12 of collar 11 and the former turned or twisted one revolution, this action screwing the cup upon the collar until the latter is disposed at the inner side of the flange 9 of said cup.

13 designates the spindle of the axle, said spindle being preferably of tapering form and provided near its inner end with the annular collar 14 and the annular shoulder 14c at the inner side of the collar and corresponding in diameter to the circular opening inclosed by the partition-flange 8. (See Fig. 1.) Outward of the collar let and vertically above its center the spindle 13 is of eccentric form with respect to the axis of that portion of the spindle at the inner side of said collar, and snugly embracing said eccentric portion 14: at the inner side of said collar is the eccentric split collar 11, hereinbefore described, the arrangement being such that the split or widest portion of said collar is vertically below its center.

15 designates a nut which is screwed upon the usual threaded termination of the spindle, and said nut is provided with an annular externalflange 16, which is adapted to engage the outer side of the flange 2 of the cylindrical cup 1.. Said nut is provided at portion of the spindle extending from the an-' nular shoulder 14 to the outer end of the spindle, said groove being composed of two connecting-passages which diverge upwardly from a point at one side of the spindle about half-way between the shoulder 14 and the nut and terminate vertically above the center of the spindle adjacent to said shoulder and said nut, said groove at its ends, therefore, communicating with the cups 1 and 6, as will presently appear.

18 designates a recess in the upper side of the spindle 13, and 18? a solidified lubricant filling for said recess, said filling at its center being formed with an integral band or ring 18 seated in an internal annular groove of the axle-skein 19, said lubricant being of any composition which will stand a certain degree of heat, it being the intention that this lubricant shall act only in emergenciesthat is to say, at periods when the oil contained in the boxes is exhausted and the friction in the bearing renders the journal sufficiently hot to melt said lubricant, which from its (position obviously will cause a substantially even distribution of oil to the entire surface of the journal.

The skein 19, which forms, as usual, a metallic lining for the hub 21, provided with substantially V-shaped recesses in its ends to receive the cups -1 and 6, which of course are secured rigidly therein, fits snugly between the nut 15 and the flange 8 of cup 6; but the joints at these points of course are sufficiently open to permit oil to flow down from said cups between the ends of the skein and the nut 15 and flange 8, and the inner end of the skein is beveled or flared by preference, as shown at 19, so as to-facilitate the flow of 'oil into the groove 17 at its inner end, the shoulder 1 forming a guide which acts to start the oil properly into the adjacent end of the. groove.

p In assembling the parts together the collar 11 is first slipped over the spindle and sprung over the collar 14 to the position shown in Fig. 1. The cups areth'en inserted in the grooves in the ends of the hub or preferably are so secured before the latter leaves the place of manufacture. A suitable quantity of liquid oil is poured into the chambers formed between flanges 3 4: and 7 8 of said cups, and then the hub is slipped upon the spindle in the customary manner until the split end 10 of flange 9 is in position for engagement with the split end 12 of collar 11, as hereinbefore explained, and as said collar is stationary by reason of being mounted upon the eccentric portion of the spindle the hub is turned forward about one revolution until the relation shown between said parts in Fig.

1 is established, as hereinbefore explained. This relation being established, the nut is screwed firmly on the end of the spindle until the flange 16 thereof engages with more or less pressure the flange 2, the resistance of the spring 5 to the movement of said flange being sufficient to hold the flange 8 by inward pressure on the hub firmly against the collar 14, thereby eliminating practically all rattling incident to a longitudinal play of the hub upon the spindle.

In operation as the hub turns forward oil is constantly dripping down from the cups into the outer ends of the intersecting passages forming the peripheral groove 17, some of which oil flows down said passages until it meets at the apex of the groove and there overflows, it being obvious that oil is overflowing said passages the full length of the spindle and in consequence of the hub turning thereon is thoroughly and evenly distrib: uted over the entire surface of the journal, as will be readily understood. 7 V I 7 g If the supply of oil in the cups should be unexpectedly exhausted,the heat engendered by the friction of the skein turning on the spindle will dissolve or partially dissolve the solidified lubricant,which will thus eliminate wear and insure the easy and noiseless turning of the hub until the supply of liquid oil can be renewed.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of an axle-spindle, provided with a recess in its upper side, and a solidified lubricant seated in said recess and formed with a band encircling the axle, and a wheel-hub provided with a skein and journaled upon said spindle, said skein having an annular groove to receive the said lubricant band, substantially as described.

2. The combination of an axle-spindle, provided with a peripheral groove, consisting of two connecting-passages which diverge upwardly and terminate at points vertically above the center of the spindle, a wheel-hub journaled on the grooved portion of the spin* dle, oil-cups set in the opposite ends of the wheel-hub and adapted to discharge oil into the ends of said groove at a certain period of the wheels revolution, and a nut screwed upon the spindle to hold the wheel-hub in place, substantially as described.

3. .The combination of an axle-spindle, provided with an annular shoulder, a peripheral groove extending from said shoulder to the outer end of the spindle, and a threaded proj ection, a wheel-hub j ournaled upon said spindle, an oil-cup secured in the inner end of the hub and provided with a partition-flange snugly embracing the spindle-shoulder, an

, oil-cup secured in the opposite end of the hub,

and a nut upon the threaded projection of the spindle, provided with a flange engaging the outer face of the last-named cup, substantially as described. 7

4.. Thecombination of an axle-spindle, provided with a collar, 14, and a groove extending from the said collar to the outer end of the spindle, a wheel-hub journaled upon the spindle, an oil-cup secured in the hub and bearing against the outer side of the said col- IIO ends disposed in different planes, and a hub journaled upon the spindle outward of collar 14, and provided with a flangeibearing at the outer side of the said collar 14, and with an inwardly-projecting split flange, with its ends bent to occupy dilferent planes, and bearing against the inner side of said eccentricallypierced collar, 11, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in'the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. PIBURNi Witnesses:

MILLARD F. RICHARDSON, GEORGE P. LINGENFELTER. 

